Saturday, November 5, 2016

B.R.Chopra

Today is the death anniversary of Baldev Raj Chopra aka B.R.Chopra, the renowned Bollywood film producer and director. An alumnus of Punjab University Lahore , in the pre- Independence era,from where he did his Master’s in English Literature, he started his career as a film journalist with the Cine Herald , a monthly magazine of Lahore which he subsequently owned and ran till partition in 1947.Post partition he moved to Delhi and later to Bombay and entered film production. While his maiden venture ‘ Karwat’ flopped, his second film Afsana in which Ashok Kumar was cast in double role ,was a hit and proved a shot in the arm for both Ashok Kumar and B.R.Chopra.Susequently he came up with ‘Naya Daur’ , the first film from his production house BR Films starring Dilip Kumar and Vaijyantimala which became a smash hit and a Golden Jubilee film. Not looking back , he went on to give hit after hit movies in a row.He was director- producer of films like Ek Hi Raasta , Naya Daur,Sadhna .Kanoon, Gumrah ,Humraz , Karm,Pati Patni Aur Woh ,Insaf Ka Tarazoo ,Nikaah and Kal Ki AwazHe also produced hit movies like Dhool Ka Phool ,Waqt,Ittefaq, Aadmi aur Insaan, Zammer, Chhoti Si Baat,The Burning Train, Agni Pareeksha, Majdoor, Pratigyabadh, Baghbaan and Baabul.

His movies were always socially relevant and carried a message.Surprisingly and for reasons best known to him, celebrated singers Muhammad Rafi & Lata Mangeshkar, did not find favour with him and a very few songs in his films were recorded in their voice.His TV serial Mahabharat broke all records in popularity and viewership.He was a recipient of Padma Bhushan ,Dadasaheb Phalke Award Nation Film Award, and Filmfare Award .